Desulphurization of iron and steel



I. E. IMUSKAT 2,204,813

Jugg18, 1940..

- 1 IDESULPHURIZATION OF IRON AND STEEL Filed June 25, 1,938

IRVING E. MusKA'r INVENTOR.

BY W

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 18, 1940 UNITED LISTATES PATENT v OFFICE DESULPHURIZATION OF IRON AND STEEL Irving E. Muskat, Akron, Ohio, assignor to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, Allegheny County, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 25, 1938, Serial No. 215,872

1 Claim. 75-55) This invention relates to improvements in reof the iron with the agent, it is preferred to fining iron and steel and is particularly directed carry out the desulphurization using a highly to an effective method for desulphurizing molten fluid slag of relatively low density. I have found iron. It is conventional to treat molten iron with that the alkali metal carbonates and bicarbonvarious desulphurizing agents in order to remove ates such as sodium carbonate or sodium bicar- 5 sulphur. In accordance with one method, it has bonate are particularly effective in this process. been proposed to introduce desulphurizing agents Other similar agents such as the alkali metal such as lime along with various other purifying cyanides, chlorides, or hydroxides may also be agents in a melting furnace in which iron ore, used in lieu of or in conjunction with the soda pig iron, scrap iron, etc., is to be melted. In ash. In addition, lime or other alkaline earth such aprocess, a charge of iron, purifying agents, metal compounds may be added to raise the and carbon generally is introduced in an upper melting point and increase the viscosity of the portion of the furnace and molten iron and slag slag if desired. From time to time or continuare separately withdrawn from a lower portion ously, a portion of the slag may be withdrawn gthereof. While some desulphurizing occurs in with impurities and fresh desulphurizer added such a process, the amount of desulphurizing to the melt. This desulphurizer may be added agent required for a given amount of iron is in the form of a powder, in lumps or in other large and often the degree of desulphurization suitable form. In general, I prefer to add the secured is insufficient for certain purposes. Fursodium carbonate or other agent as briquettes thermore, it is impossible to insure uniform conbonded with a suitable binder, such as molasses 20 tact between the ironand the purifying agent, or still residue derived from the distillation of and for this reason the degree of desulphurizamineral oils. tion is often nonuniform throughout the melt. In t e Operation f e em d en i ust ated Accordingly, it is common to desulphurize in the figure, We y use a suitable p fi molten iron after it has been removed from the provided with a discharge lip II and a baflie 2 25 furnace. In such cases desulphurizing agents and suspended from chain 6 and hook 5 by means are added to a molten pool 'of iron and a desul- 0f i t b e b A DP provided With. phurizing slag is thereby formed upon the ura discharge device 8 ina lower portion thereof, face of the pool which may then be skimmed off is suspended ov h container and supported or otherwise removed. Here again, it is often on bail 4 y suitable pp w 30 difficult to secure uniform treatment since the In the Ope of the device, briquettes 0f slag rests upon the surface of the metal and soda ash a e discharged from the pp 0 the uniform contact of the purifying agent with the purifier s shown nd a l n slag p f su metal i not obtained, stantial depth is thereby formed. Molten iron,

In accordance with my invention, I have been te ning sulp is Withdrawn from it su 5 able to provide a method of intimately contaotable source, such as a melting nace, a d dising a body of molten metal with suitable refin- Charged threugh spout 2 into the slag PO ing agents. I have found that a very complete thro h c it flows a d. is withdrawn from removal of sulphur may be secured by withdra under bafiie 2 and discharged into a ladle or ing molten metal containing sulphur from a other convenient container y raisins or 40 melting furnace, establishing a pool of molten lowering handle it is possible to egu ate he desulphurizing agent and permitting the molten rate of flow of iron from the pu fier- Preferiron to flow through this pool. In this manner, aibly the rate of w of on t d from the the iron may be uniformly contacted with the pu i is so regulated the}; e me 2 s mdesulphurizing agent in a minimum of time and melsed ill P (if iron whereby slag is p e- 45 more thorough removal of ulphur may be vented from flowing underneath the baflie and obtained than has previously been regarded as into the ladleeconomically feasible. Since the desulphurization occurs with rapid- The invention will be more fully understood y, it is p e to maintain a t u s flow 59 by reference to the following specification illusof molten iron through the purifier and thus, trated by the accompanying drawing in which large quantities of molten iron may be treated the figure is a diagrammatic vertical, sectional with a minimum of soda ash in a minimum of View of a purifier suitable for use in desulphurtime to obtain a maximum removal of sulphur.

izing metal in accordance with my invention. If necessary, the process may be repeated until In order to insure rapid and thorough contact the required amount of sulphur is removed. The 03 depth of the slag pool is dependent largely upon the amount of sulphur present in the iron and the rate of flow of iron through the pool, but should be suflicient to insure a substantial removal of sulphur from the metal as it settles through the slag. The process is not limited to the use of the apparatus shown in the figure, but may be operated using other convenient means for providing a relatively deep slag pool.

The following example is illustrative of the invention:

Example I.Molten iron containing 0.039% of sulphur was introduced into a purifier of the type illustrated in the figure, and soda ash briquettes bonded with a carbonaceous binder was added in suflicient amount to form a pool of slag having a depth of 24 inches. Iron was introduced into the purifier at the rate of 100 tons per hour and fresh briquettes added at the rate of 10 pounds per ton. The average sulphur content of the iron leaving the purifier was 0.008%.

This process is particularly adapted to the removal of sulphur from iron which initially is relatively low in sulphur content. Thus, a substantial reduction in the sulphur content of a melt which initially contains 0.02 to 0.04 percent of sulphur, may be secured. This sulphur may be present either in the free state or combined with the other constituents. The process is not only effective in the removal. of sulphur but has the additional advantage of serving as an effective means of neutralizing and removing acid slag which may be dispersed in the molten iron. Thus, molten iron of extremely high purity may be secured in a simple manner without the extensive agitation and manipulation which has been regarded as necessary in prior art processes.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the specific details of certain embodiments thereof,'it is not intended that such details shall be regarded as limitations upon the scope of the invention except insofar as included in the accompanying claim,

I claim:

A continuous process for purifying molten iron containing sulphur which comprises establishing a pool of fluid slag containing sodium carbonate in a pivoted tilting ladle, introducing a continuous stream of molten iron containing sulphur into the upper portion of said pool thereby permitting the iron to flow through the pool, the depth of the pool being of such magnitude that the iron is substantially desulphurized as it flows therethrough, maintaining the depth of the pool by adding briquettes of sodium carbonate bonded with a binder of the group consisting of molasses and still residue derived from the distillation of petroleum, continuously withdrawing purified iron from the base of the pool and regulating the rate of flow of iron from the base of the pool by regulating the angle of inclination of the tilting ladle.

IRVING E. MUSKAT. 

